Pad or mat



H. FREES E. PAD 0R MAT. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, I920- 1,395,22 7, Patented Oct. 25, 1921. Kgjl'a 1.,

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WITNESS: IN V EN TOR.

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A TTORNEY.

UNITED STATES HUGO FREESE, OF GENESEG, NEW YORK.

PAD 0R MAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

Application filed February 24, 1920. Serial No. 360,552.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, HUso Frannsn. a, citizen of the United States,residing at Geneseo, in the county of Livingston and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pads or Mats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

Thisinvention relates to pads, mats and similar devices, and has for its object the provision of a flexible pad or mat which can be made in various sizes for different purposes, being useful'as a heat-insulating pad for the handle of a sad iron, cooking utensil or other object, to protect the hand from being scorched or burned, and being useful when made in a larger size, as a folding plank or mat for the wheel of an automobile when mired in a rut.

It is the object of the invention to provide such a pad or mat made from pieces or sticks of wood or similar material assembled and held together in a novel yet simple and eflicient manner, whereby the pad or mat is flexible to conform to a handle, automobile wheel or other objects with which the device is used.

Another object is the provision of such a pad or mat which can be quickly and cheaply manufactured from wood, and the parts thereof readily assembled.

A still further object is the provision of such a pad or mat composed of pieces or sticks of wood, or the like, disposed side by side parallel with one another, and binding means extending through the sticks whereby the pad or mat is flexible along one line, but stiff or rigid in a line at right angles thereto.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of the device, portions being broken away and shown in section.

r. Fig. 2 is an edge view showing the device in flat position.

Fig. 3 is an end view showing the device folded. I i

The pad or mat is composed of the end sticks or pieces of wood 4, intermediate stick 5, and two sets of sticks or pieces 6 between the stick 5 and sticks 4. These sticks are all ofwood or similar material, and the sticks 4c and 5 are preferably flat or of rectangular cross section, while the sticks 6 are of round form or circular cross section, whereby to render the device more flexible transversely of the sticks. The sticks 4: and 5 being flat, will provide for a better grip when the pad is held in the hand and made'to embrace the handle of a sad iron, pan or pot and the like, grasping same by the hand, and, furthermore, the flat surfaces of the sticks i and 5 will provide an opportunity for the printing of advertising matter thereon, should it be desired to use the device as an advertising medium. The sticks are preferably all of the same length, and are inexpensively obtained from wood.

The sticks or pieces are bound together by means of a flexible binding element 7 of strings, wire, or the like, which extends transversely through the end portions-of the sticks and longitudinally along the outer edges of the end sticks et, having its ends tied together, whereby to embrace the sticks substantially around the margin of the pad or mat to hold the sticks assembled side by side. The binding element 7 may be of rubber or elastic material, whereby it has a tendency to contract and therefore hold the sticks tightly against one another, side by side, which will also have the tendency of causing the pad or mat to assume a flat position, as seen in Fig. 2. The element 7 extends through apertures 8 in the intermediate stick 5 near the ends thereof, and may extend through similar apertures in the other sticks, but it is preferable to slot the ends of the sticks 6 and 4 as indicated at 9 and 10, respectively, to receive the binding element, thereby enhancing the assemblage of the parts, and consequently reducing the time. and cost of manufacture. Furthermore, the slotted ends of the sticks 6 enable them to be removed and inserted, should it be desired to shorten 0r lengthen the pad. Thus, by pushing one stick 6 lengthwise to disengage one end thereof from the binding element, it can then be pulled longitudinally in the opposite direction to remove it and such stick can be applied in the reverse manner.

If the device is made on a small scale, say about 4- inches square, it can beconveniently used as a padfor holding sad irons, pots, pans and other cooking utensils, and the like, and the wood will serve'as heat insula-' tion to protect the hand. The pad is placed on the handle with the sticks longitudinally thereof, and the pad can then bend transversely of the sticks so as to surround. 0r

embrace the handle when thehand graspssame. In this use of the device, itis preferable to attach. a loop 11 of elastic or fiexible material to the stick 5 between the ends thereof, through which one finger of the hand can beinserted, thereby holding the pad in the palm of the hand. Thus, when the grip is released, the pad will remain in the hand, and if the binding element 7 is of elastic material, the pad will tend to straighten out or open out fiat, so that the hand can readily grasp the handle again without interference. This loop 11 could also be used for hanging the device up on a which the wheel can run or roll out of the rut, without other aid. The device can be folded, as seen in Fig- 3, to be stored away within small space when not in use. It is thus possible, by building the device in various sizes and shapes, to use the inven-' tion for many purposes, for which it is suited. The device can also be used as a mat to lie on while working under the car.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is p l. A flexible device of the kind described comprising sticks disposed side by side in contact, and a flexible binding element extending through the end portions of said sticks to flexibly bind them together in contact, some of said sticks having open ended slots in their end portions to receive said elements and to permit the sticks to be removed.

2. A flexible device of the kind described comprising sticks, an intermediate stick having apertures near its ends, and the end portionsol the other sticks having open ended slots therein, a binding element extending transversely of the sticks through said apertures and slots and longitudinally along the end sticks to bind the sticks together in contact side by side.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HUGO F REESE. Witnesses Jnssrn M. ERWIN, 7 AUsTINW. ERWIN. 

